Electronic gaming device

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a portable, hand-held electronic device in mug shape for playing games of chance or fortune telling. It is a drinking mug as well as a device capable of producing and displaying random numbers or graphics for use in games of chance or fortune telling. It generally comprises a mug-shaped container, a base and a display ring. By changing the display ring, different games of chance and fortune telling can be played between two or more players together in bars, taverns, restaurants or at home.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to electronic games and moreparticularly pertains to a portable, hand-held electronic device in mugshape for playing games of chance or fortune telling.

[0002] Electronic devices for producing random numbers upon which gamesof chance or fortune telling are to be based are not new. A conventionalelectronic gaming device employs a random number generator, which isnormally an integrated circuit configured as an astable multivibrator.When the generator is activated, it will produce a series of electricimpulses which is displayed visually via, for example, light emittingdiode display, fluorescent display, liquid crystal display or plasmadisplay devices. When the series of electric impulses stops, anunpredictable or random number will then be displayed on which a game ofchance or fortune telling can be played.

[0003] The conventional electronic gaming devices are usually large insize so as to allow many players to play together at one time. There arealso portable, hand-held electronic gaming devices but they could onlyallow two to a few players to play together at one time. Further, owingto their small size, the devices are relatively easier to be misplacedand thus lost. In addition, players are likely to pass the devices fromone to one for playing games and so the devices are susceptible todamage during the process. In any event, when the devices are not inuse, even if they are small in size, it takes place to store the same.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In view of the aforesaid disadvantages now present in the priorart, the present invention provides a portable, hand-held electronicdevice in mug shape for playing games of chance or fortune telling. Itis a drinking mug as well as a device capable of producing anddisplaying random numbers for use in games of chance or fortune telling.

[0005] To attain this, the present invention generally comprises amug-shaped container, a base and a display ring. The base can beinserted into the inside bottom of the mug-shaped container and thedisplay ring can encircle the outside bottom of the mug-shapedcontainer. The base and the display ring can be removed from themug-shaped container.

[0006] The mug-shaped container is in one piece and made of anywater-proofing material such as glass and plastics.

[0007] The base includes a power supply, a vibration sensor switch, atimer integrated circuit, an oscillator integrated circuit, a counterand six light emitting diodes. The power supply may apply batteries of4.5V. The vibration sensor switch, the timer integrated circuit, theoscillator integrated circuit and the counter are present art. Thevibration sensor switch may use MEMS technology which allows for asmaller size. The timer integrated circuit and the oscillator integratedcircuit each may use 555 integrated circuit or 4011 integrated circuit.The counter may use 4017 integrated circuit. Alternatively, a lightemitting diode flash driver may be used to replace the timer integratedcircuit, the oscillator integrated circuit and the counter. The lightemitting diode flash driver is also present art and may use M1710integrated circuit from Mosdesign Semiconductor Limited. The six lightemitting diodes are arranged along the base, and light emitted from thelight emitting diodes is visible outside.

[0008] The display ring is made of any transparent material withgraphics on it showing six different symbols such as numbers 1 to 6 indifferent languages or graphics, dots 1 to 6 of a dice, finger 0 tofingers 5, or, three different symbols repeatedly once such as “paper,scissors, stone”, numbers 1 to 3 in different languages or graphics, or,two different symbols repeatedly twice such as “♡ ME, ♡ ME NOT”.

[0009] The present invention is played between two or more playerstogether in bars, taverns, restaurants or at home by each holding amug-shaped container with beer or any other beverage for drinking andthe players can then hit their mugs with the others as for cheers or hittheir mugs on the table to play games of chances or fortune telling.When the mug-shaped container is hit, the vibration sensor switch willbe turned on and it will produce digital signals and trigger off thetimer integrated circuit and the oscillator integrated circuit, whichwill generate electric waves in a predetermined period of time, forexample, 5 seconds. The counter will be driven and each of the six lightemitting diodes will light sequentially from the first to the sixth andthen back to the first repeating the sequence and eventually stops atone of the six light emitting diodes when the predetermined period oftime expires. The light will then turn off automatically after apredetermined period of time, for example, 5 seconds, and the inventionwill then be re-set.

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable,hand-held electronic device in mug shape for playing games of chance orfortune telling.

[0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide anelectronic device in mug shape which can be used, washed or stored as adrinking mug.

[0012] It is a further object of the present invention to provide anelectronic gaming device which can be played by two or an unlimitednumber of players together.

[0013] An even further object of the present invention is to provide anelectronic gaming device which is small in size without limiting thenumber of players playing together and which can also be used and storedas a drinking mug, thus overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is the perspective view of the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 2 is the dismantling view of the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the base of the presentinvention.

[0017]FIG. 4 is the block diagram showing the circuitry of the presentinvention.

[0018]FIG. 5a to FIG. 5e show the perspective views of the display ringwith graphics of dots 1 to 6 of a dice.

[0019]FIG. 6a to FIG. 6e show the perspective views of the display ringwith graphics of Arabic number 1 to 6.

[0020]FIG. 7a to FIG. 7e show the perspective views of the display ringwith graphics of “10, J, Q, K, A, JOKER” of playing cards.

[0021]FIG. 8a to FIG. 8e show the perspective views of the display ringwith graphics of “paper, scissors, stone” repeated once.

[0022]FIG. 9a to FIG. 9e show the perspective views of the display ringwith graphics of “OUTLOOK GOOD, YES, ASK AGAIN LATER, CANNOT PREDICTNOW, MY REPLY IS NO, MOST LIKELY”.

[0023]FIG. 10a to FIG. 10e show the perspective views of the displayring with graphics of “♡ ME, ♡ ME NOT” repeated twice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the present inventiongenerally comprises a mug-shaped container 1, a base 2 and one or moredisplay ring 3. The base 2 can be inserted into the inside bottom of themug-shaped container 1 and the display ring 3 can encircle the outsidebottom of the mug-shaped container 1. The base 2 and the display ring 3can be removed from the mug-shaped container 1. The mug-shaped container1 is in one piece and made of glass. The display ring 3 is made of anytransparent material with graphics on it showing six different symbolsor three different symbols repeatedly once or two different symbolsrepeatedly twice.

[0025] As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the base 2 includes a powersupply 21, a vibration sensor switch 22, a timer integrated circuit 23,an oscillator integrated circuit 24, a counter 25 and six light emittingdiodes 261-266. The power supply 21 is from batteries of 4.5V. Thevibration sensor switch 22 uses MEMS technology which allows for asmaller size. The timer integrated circuit 23 and the oscillatorintegrated circuit 24 each uses 555 integrated circuit. The counter 25uses 4017 integrated circuit. The six light emitting diodes 261-266 arearranged along the base, and light emitted from the light emittingdiodes 26 is visible outside.

[0026] As illustrated in FIG. 5a to FIG. 5e, the display ring 3 is ofdesign with graphics of dots 1 to 6 of a dice.

[0027] As illustrated in FIG. 6a to FIG. 6e, the display ring 3 is ofanother design with graphics of Arabic numbers 1 to 6.

[0028] As illustrated in FIG. 7a to FIG. 7e, the display ring 3 is ofanother design with graphics of “10, J, Q, K, A, JOKER” of playingcards.

[0029] As illustrated in FIG. 8a to FIG. 8e, the display ring 3 is ofanother design with graphics of “paper, scissors, stone” repeated once.

[0030] As illustrated in FIG. 9a to FIG. 9e, the display ring 3 is ofanother design with graphics of “OUTLOOK GOOD, YES, ASK AGAIN LATER,CANNOT PREDICT NOW, MY REPLY IS NO, MOST LIKELY”.

[0031] As illustrated in FIG. 10a to FIG. 10e, the display ring 3 is ofa further design with graphics of “♡ ME, ♡ ME NOT” repeated twice.

[0032] As illustrated in FIG. 5a to FIG. 5e, when the mug-shapedcontainer 1 is hit with another mug or on the table, the vibrationsensor switch 22 will be turned on and it will produce digital signalsand trigger off the timer integrated circuit 23 and the oscillatorintegrated circuit 24, which will generate electric waves for 5 seconds.The counter 25 will be driven and each of the six light emitting diodes261-266 will light sequentially from Dot 1 261, Dot 2 262, Dot 3 263,Dot 4 264, Dot 5 265 to Dot 6 266 and then back to Dot 1 261 repeatingthe sequence and eventually stops at one of the six light emittingdiodes 261-266 after 5 seconds. The light will then turn offautomatically after 5 seconds, and the invention will then be re-set.Players can play again. Various dice games can be played such as Craps,Poker, Hi-Lo and Liar's Dice.

[0033] As illustrated in FIG. 6a to FIG. 6e, the display ring 3 can bereplaced with another display ring of different graphics. When thedisplay ring 3 with graphics of Arabic numbers 1 to 6 is used and thecounter 25 is driven, each of the six light emitting diodes 261-266 willlight sequentially from Arabic number 1 261, Arabic number 2 262, Arabicnumber 3 263, Arabic number 4 264, Arabic number 5 265 to Arabic number6 266 and then back to Arabic number 1 261 repeating the sequence andeventually stops at one of the six light emitting diodes 261-266 after 5seconds. The light will then turn off automatically after 5 seconds, andthe invention will then be re-set. Players can play again. Variousnumber-guessing games can be played.

[0034] As illustrated in FIG. 7a to FIG. 7e, the display ring 3 can bereplaced with another display ring of different graphics. When thedisplay ring 3 with graphics of “10, J, Q, K, A, JOKER” of playing cardsis used and the counter 25 is driven, each of the six light emittingdiodes 261-266 will light sequentially from 10 261, J 262, Q 263, K 264,JOKER 265 to A 266 and then back to 10 261 repeating the sequence andeventually stops at one of the six light emitting diodes 261-266 after 5seconds. The light will then turn off automatically after 5 seconds, andthe invention will then be re-set. Players can play again. Variouscard-guessing games can be played.

[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 8a to FIG. 8e, the display ring 3 can bereplaced with another display ring of different graphics. When thedisplay ring 3 with graphics of “paper, scissors, stone” repeated onceis used and the counter 25 is driven, each of the six light emittingdiodes 261-266 will light sequentially from paper 261, scissors 262,stone 263, paper 264, scissors 265, stone 266 and then back to paper 261repeating the sequence and eventually stops at one of the six lightemitting diodes 261-266 after 5 seconds. The light will then turn offautomatically after 5 seconds, and the invention will then be re-set.Players can play again. Various finger-guessing games can be played.

[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 9a to FIG. 9e, the display ring 3 can bereplaced with another display ring of different graphics. When thedisplay ring 3 with graphics of “MOST LIKELY, YES, ASK AGAIN LATER,CANNOT PREDICT NOW, MY REPLY IS NO, OUTLOOK GOOD” is used and thecounter 25 is driven, each of the six light emitting diodes 261-266 willlight sequentially from OUTLOOK GOOD 261, YES 262, ASK AGAIN LATER 263,CANNOT PREDICT NOW 264, MY REPLY IS NO 265, MOST LIKELY 266 and thenback to MOST LIKELY 261 repeating the sequence and eventually stops atone of the six light emitting diodes 261-266 after 5 seconds. The lightwill then turn off automatically after 5 seconds, and the invention willthen be re-set. Players can play again. Various questions can be askedby the players and fortune telling games can be played.

[0037] As illustrated in FIG. 10a to FIG. 10e, the display ring 3 can bereplaced with another display ring of different graphics. When thedisplay ring 3 with graphics of “♡ ME, ♡ ME NOT” repeated twice is usedand the counter 25 is driven, each of the six light emitting diodes261-266 will light sequentially from ♡ ME 261, ♡ ME NOT 262, ♡ ME 263, ♡ME NOT 264, ♡ ME 265, ♡ ME NOT 266 and then back to ♡ ME 261 repeatingthe sequence and eventually stops at one of the six light emittingdiodes 261-266 after 5 seconds. The light will then turn offautomatically after 5 seconds, and the invention will then be re-set.Players can play again. Various questions can be asked by the playersand fortune telling games can be played.

[0038] As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operationof the present invention, the same should be apparent from the abovedescription. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the mannerof usage and operation is provided.

[0039] With respect to the above description, it is to be realized thatthe optimum relationships for the parts of the invention in regard tosize, shape, form, materials, function and manner of operation, assemblyand use are deemed readily apparent and obvious to those skilled in theart, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in thedrawings and described in the specification are intended to beencompassed by the present invention.

[0040] The present invention is capable of other embodiments and ofbeing practiced and carried out in various ways. It is to be understoodthat the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purposeof description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0041] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only ofthe principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modificationsand changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic gaming device comprising: amug-shaped container; a base which can be inserted into and be removedfrom the inside bottom of the mug-shaped container and which contains apower supply, a vibration sensor switch, a timer integrated circuit, anoscillator integrated circuit, a counter and six light emitting diodes;and one display ring which can encircle and be removed from the outsidebottom of the mug-shaped container and which is transparent and has aset of six graphic symbols on its surface.
 2. An electronic gamingdevice as in claim 1, wherein the display ring can display differentsets of graphics including a set of six different graphics or a set ofthree different graphics repeatedly once or a set of two differentgraphics repeatedly twice.
 3. An electronic gaming device as in claim 1,wherein the six light emitting diodes can display the random numbergenerated through the different graphics on the display ring.